Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20
sWORDsMEN OF INDIA.
Their Great Skill i'm Using Their Won.
derful Weapons.

In dissertation on swords writer in the English
Mechanic says:
The hign-class damascened and exuuistely tenn
pered blades the curved cimeters Of extra hard
steel, and the keen weapons OF highly finished
durability came to India with those mighty
cOnquerros OF the East, the MOhamme-
dams, whose descendants under the victori-
Gus and peace-promoting British rule can no
longer follow the craft, disarming being the
prevailing regime. The comparatively few
only to be found in the palaces of royal princes,
most OF them heirlOOms in their armortes Before
the great mutiny every native, even mental SER
wore the weapon OF defense; so did the harmless
wanderer in search OF employ, and the black SOL
due to the unsettled state Of popular feelings
and lawless inclinations. The excited Moslem
printed and shouted the great text OF the false
prophet: 'The Sword is the Key OF Heaven and
He'll" while the quiet HindOO frequented midnight
meetings and brought his teghar or village saber
to razor edge. The quiet dweller in England will
scarcely believe the prOdigies performed in sword
cutting by these coarse Unlocking bits Of curved
metal. costing no more than two shillings The
to master the object Not less than half a Dozen
perhaps even dozen, have attained such swords
manship with the Oriental weapon as to be ack-
nOwledged champions, the title OF master Of the
sword tSahib tulwar being bestowed on them by
universal consent.
had shot numerous wild beasts when was
told by an expert that my hunting education was
very deficient, as could not handle cimeter to
stop my game. was told to exercise continually
drawing cut at the proper part Of the blade; then
on pillow loosely STUFFED with cotton; then on a
% tSa d nacte b. Sa ,es a.
heavy man till the carcas became loose,
soft mass; then on q great pond carp a
mail, considered Al feat to test man and sword.
Ny first trial at this experiment resulted In
triple fracture Of the good blade, s9ndry scales
artistic tour de force at paper cones placed on
table, and muslin thrown up to height-all man
ornamental, 1 eventually forsOok for the 1seful
and moro easy decapitation OF fierce quedrupeds,
begnainy with a wounded Wild hog Of full
hind the ear. sweeping OF the head neary, that
Important part dropping between the fore feet.
prnceling dismo,lnt from his elephant, leaving it
standing to await his return, and follow on foot
alone an immense boar he had wounded with his
It's foamy tusks to charge. He drew his kookree,
or nepaulse sword, and as 1t sprang at him the
blade was buried across piggy's back, all but sew
Among some military trophies once saw very
rude, rusty teghar-lOcally worth shilling
which had cleaEly decapitated raw recruit, sew
enamel beads. Tine n1mble village rebel had sprung
on the sepoy from ambush while trimming his
priced teghars and tulwars are OF very soft metal,
capable OF being bent and Strengthened across the
DtaQe, Whiic the aFcn OF CuUtllR portion, Win
razor edge, offers immense resistance In the hands
OF an expert who, behind his shield, can watch
and measure his opportunity; only the straight
thrust OF British Dayonets or Dragon blades can
reach them.
The metal and finish OF cutting arms improve
when we enter North India. Hard steel OF fine
temper AID high workmanship used to be CON-
mon until two Sikh wars and the great mutiny
abolished the demand for such deadly wares. The
skilful Mohammedah craftsman had to elngrate
for livelihood, or too often dWindled into black
smith OF harmless occupation. remember In the
good old times OF the East India Co., ttinerant
sword pedders, PerslanS and AfghanS OF great
stature and big turbans
"DO you want any SWOrdS?"
ayes, but where are they?"
his head-cloth, where they CROPPED awhile; out
sprang three or four shining steel snakes elastic
blades. unhandled a la mode, f20 to ESQ each In
value, sometime, more. Then the dealer put
them through various severe tests to satisfy his
customer, packing them away again In their
hiding place should there be no sale, and
going Oh the road. But there were many
shapes and sizes and sorts OF cimeters OF great
price, harder and less flexible, both plain and
daInascened. The black steel OF khoraSsan, very
rare In the market was reputed to have cut off
the neck OF an anvil-an eastern anvil, OF course;
the Persian and Central Asian specimens, eie-
tnat girl could use them, Others SO heavy that
height and length OF arms with width Of chest,
were needful gifts OF nature to utilize them
men like "ROb Roy" or "Mahmud GhuZni," whose
hands hung below their knees. The latter notable
carried an awful steel mace in preference to a
sword, and smashed idols and idOlaterS with his
own arms on all occasions